Makeup Ingredients: From Latin to English

Makeup products and cosmetics contain a variety of ingredients, some of which are unfamiliar to a lot of consumers. Moreso, a handful of studies have found that several of these ingredients can be harmful to the skin. Concerns such as animal testing, high mercury and lead content, and pricing are just some of the issues being dealt with in the billion dollar makeup industry.

With the growing number of sources of information consumers are exposed to, the makeup industry is brushing up and upping their game. Manufacturers are beginning to heed the call of consumers, one of which is on product labeling.

Not a lot of women know that the ingredients in a specific cosmetic product are labeled in a uniform fashion as established by an international movement. This movment was successful in allowing product ingredients' lists to carry Latin scientific names, translated from their local or English names.

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Thankfully, Julep, a cosmetic manufacturer, advocates for a more user-friendly list of ingredients, translated into English. According to Michele Lottermoser, Julep's vice president of product development, the more understandable terms in a products' list are in parenthesese.

Furthermore, toxicologist Joseph C. DiNardo shares that this could be a return to simplicity; a return to using very simple formulations and minimizing exposure to harmful ingredients. The Los Angeles Times listed the most common ingredients in makeup that are not recognizable due to their Latin labeling:

1. Insects - The red dye in carmine or cochineal is made up of insects. 2. Fish Scales - Fish scales give a particular shimmer usually found in nail polish. 3. Caffeine- A skin stimulant especially when used topically. 4. Algae- Also known as "pond scum", it can be found in shampoos, anti-aging products, and powders. 5. Gluten- From the word "glue", gluten is like a binder, used in lipstick, hairspray, and moisturizers. 6. Faux rust - Used to give color in makeup products. 7. Gelatin - A lot of potein shampoos contain gelatin, since it sticks to the hair and gives the illusion of body and volume. 8. Lycra- Brands such as Rimmel have incorporated Lycra in their makeup line, finding that the microfibers of this fabric make their mascaras last longer and give a more defined look.